The Transformation of Form and Discourse of Identity in Sumbanese Houses and Settlements

DOI

10.2991/assehr.k.201009.016How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Community, House Form, Identity, Sumba, Settlement, Traditional House, Transformation

Abstract

In the traditional settlement of Sumba island, the local community transforms the architecture based on their constantly shifting needs. The houses undergo a series of transformations in the interior spaces as well as exterior in both architectural form and implemented building materials. The easy access of factory-produced prefabricated materials substitutes the increasingly scarce nature sourced one. Growing family members force the occupant to modify the existing spatial configuration and function, such as transforming the semi-public veranda into a private bedroom area. On the other hand, cultural and religious transformation forced the removal of the sacred inner hearth, diminishing the ceremonial and cooking capabilities inside the house. This creates phenomena of secondary structure act as the external kitchen as well as creating extension space for the occupants. This paper attempts to clarify the flexibility of space and the significance of identity in Sumbanese settlement as well as the methodology used by the people in transforming the space in both the micro and macro spectrum. Through the comparison of six observed villages, the difference in the transformation process and pattern of each region can be identified. The transformation and the implication to identity shift are divided into several patterns according to the settlement location: hilltop and flatland villages. The process of house and cultural identity shift occurs in both settlement types. The transformation process shows the adaptabilities of traditional Sumba houses in response to the modern needs of the residents, and the discourse of shifting identities occurred constantly in both interior and village scale.

Copyright

© 2020, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Mirzadelya Devanastya
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2020/10/10
TI  - The Transformation of Form and Discourse of Identity in Sumbanese Houses and Settlements
BT  - Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Dwelling Form (IDWELL 2020)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 149
EP  - 160
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.201009.016
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.201009.016
ID  - Devanastya2020
ER  -